Show #658 September 2, 2024

Guest: Professor Wes Marshall

This episode of our show was intended to highlight another great riding trail along with a conversation with renowned traffic engineer and planner Professor Wes Marshall at the University of Colorado in Denver.

My conversation with Wes happened the day after the news of the deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were announced and when we logged in to talk, we had both been reading the same news summary. 

The horror and disbelief of the tragedy really struck me hard and because so much of the topics Wes and I were to talk about were directly connected to the issues we have with traffic and safety, I decided to let this episode stand alone.

Professor Marshall’s new book, Killed By A Traffic Engineer: Shattering the Delusion that Science Underlies Our Transportation System, offers ideas, data, options, and a broad observation of what we are getting wrong about the way we not only DO transportation and safety, but how we think about it in the first place.

I think you will enjoy our conversation and, in the least instance, get some valuable insight into what traffic engineers are and need to be.

I do highly recommend his book, Killed by a Traffic Engineer, and, as he mentioned, read some of his peer-reviewed papers by searching Google Scholar for a plethora of interesting topics including why higher numbers of cyclists translate into safer cities.

It’s been a rough couple of weeks in our bicycle world with the high-profile deaths of the Gaudreau brothers.  I cannot imagine the pain and sorrow that their families are feeling and, from the outpouring of support and tributes, so many others have been affected too.

The time for a change in the way we think about traffic, safety, urban planning and transportation, and most importantly, the mindset that says it’s okay to drive a car regardless of your sobriety, anger, or distractions, is now.  If you are not already involved in some form of advocacy, perhaps now is the time to join a local organization, sit in on city council meetings, or perhaps take your already-expertise to local schools.

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September 2_Transcript

 

Show #656 August 14, 2024

Guests: Jill Warren; Scott Kasper

Back in April, 65 members of the European Cyclists Federation, representing 40 countries, signed the EU Declaration of Cycling.

Founded in 1983, the European Cyclists’ Federation is a Brussels-based independent non-profit association dedicated to achieving more and better cycling for all in Europe.

The ECF’s mandate?  That by 2030 there will be more cycling, safer cycling, and stronger political support for cycling that includes higher investment with more and better infrastructure.

Today, my guest is Jill Warren.  Jill, who is CEO of the European Cyclist’s Federation, left the corporate world to pursue a career committed to expanding cycling for everyone everywhere.  She’s lived in Europe for 35 years and, although she does have a car, rarely drives it, depending instead upon one of the stable of bikes for transport.

Jill says, and I quote, “there is no conceivable way to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the European Green Deal or climate-neutral cities without significantly more cycling.”

You can find out more about the ECF at ecf.com.  And, sign up for their newsletter there too.  I’m hoping we here in the U.S. can take a page out of her playbook in hopes of expanding our cycling infrastructure. 

In the second half of our episode today, we continue our summer exploration of great and favorite trails. 

One of my past guests, Scott Kasper, contacted me and wanted to share his experience of the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park in Utah.

Not as well known or traveled as the Grand Canyon, Scott thinks this trail is just as breathtaking and urges us to drop in, climb out, and disconnect from the grid for a few days, taking in the beauty of the rugged White Rim Trail.

Located between the Green and Colorado Rivers, the 100-mile MTB trail is both rugged and breathtaking.  As promised, Scott’s gallery shows the beauty of the White Rim Trail. 

My thanks to Scott for sharing his experience of the White Rim Trail in Moab.  As promised, we’ve posted a gallery of his photos on outspokencyclist.com.

We’ll be heading to Missouri to explore the 240 mile Katy Trail on our next Katy Trail, episode and will be having a chat with Professor Wes Marshall whose book, “Killed By A Traffic Engineer,” is acclaimed as the transportation book that will change the way you look at our streets.  Provocative title, huh?

Thanks for listening – I hope you enjoyed the show.

Hope you’re having a great day.  Stay safe.  Stay well.  And remember, there is always time for a ride.  Bye bye.`

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